Silent drive chain



l 14, 1931- A J. MERkLE 1,800,557

SILENT DRIVE CHAIN Filed Nov. 10, 1928 E INVENTOR,

sprockets.

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 entree stares ARTHUR J. MEB-KLE, F DAYTON, OHIOSILENT DRIVE CHAIN Application filed November 10, 1928. Serial No.318,342.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in silent drivechains.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide for the purpose oftransmitting power from one sprocket wheel to another, a silent drivechain which has few parts and is simply and sturdily constructed. Italso works eiiiciently on sprocket wheels operating at a high rate ofspeed without e stretching, buckling or whipping.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in thefollowing specification and particularlyset forth in the subjoinedclaims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of aportion of the chain on a broken section of a sprocket wheel. Figure 2is a perspective View of a working link. Figure 3 is a side view of abroken section of a link with an end view of a pintle in a hole in thelink. Figure 4 is a perspective View of a washer. And Figure 5 is aperspective view of a pintle.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, the numeral 1designates a Working link of my chain. The ends and lower edge of thislink are shaped to form a pair of teeth 2 to engage the sprockets 3 of awheel 4 as shown in Figure 1.

An opening 5 is formed in each end of the link 1, with its center in aplane having all of its points equidistant from the corresponding pointsof two adjacent sprockets when the link 1 is in engagement with thoseThe opening 5 has two straight opposite sides 6, 6 parallel to eachother. These sides coincide with the line of travel of the chain when itis moving in a straight line and are tangent to its arc of travel at thecenter point of the sides when the chain is in engagement with asprocket wheel. The curved sides 7,7 of the link are-arcs of a circlepassing through the ends of the sides 6, 6. (See Figure 2.) Therefore,the openings 5 in the links have opposite concave side walls andopposite parallel straight walls.

A connecting pintle 8 has two opposite sides 9, 9 shaped after thefashion of the sides 7, 7 of the opening 5 in a link 1 for movablyengaging these sides. The two remaining sides 10, 10 of the pintle arestraight and parallel as shown in Figure 3, with their respective pointsequidistant from its axis which coincides with the center of the opening5. Since the sides 10, 10 of the pintle 8 do not engage the sides 6, 6of the opening 5, spaces 11, 11 are left between these sides whichchange in shape and size as the link 1 turns on the pintle.

Guide links 12 are carried on the ends of the pintle for keeping thechain on the sprockets to enable it to track properly. These links aresimilar in size and shape tothe working links 1, with the exception thatthey are not formed with teeth. (See Figure 1.)

To hold it in the links I reduce the ends of each pintle to a uniformcylinder having a diameter equal to the shortest distance between itssides 10, 10, as shown in Figure 5, for receiving a washer 13. Thelatter is socured on the pintle by riveting that portion of the end ofthe pintle which projects through the washer. i

In assemblying the parts, a series of working links are placed withtheir sides adjacent each other and another series arranged similarly.The ends of the links of both series alternately overlap so that theopening in each end of each link registers with the opening in the endof an adjacent overlapping link for receiving the pintle 8. Both ends ofthe latter project sufficiently beyond the said links to receive a guidelink 12. Then washers 18, as above described, are riveted on the ends ofthe pintle to hold the links in their proper place.

In operation, when the links are traveling in a straight line the spaces11, 11 assume the shape shown in Figure 3. But when they are moving inengagement with a sprocket these spaces change to ashape similar tothose in Figure 3 as indicated by the dotted line 14 and the flat sidesof the link 1. Due to the constant change in size and shape of thesespaces during operation, they serve efficiently for forcing oil betweenthe working parts. When the sides are parallel as described, the space11 has the greatest capacity. YVhile attaining this increased capacity,there is created therein for an instant a vacuum which iifiij i lissnliicient tofdravv oilfromothe adjacent;

' creasing in size as the links engage a sprocket,

thefoil is forced out of the space to again lu-- bricate'the movingparts, V V

' V p v, This feature gives a continual movement of oil between the'loperat'ingeparts, which cannot Working partsinto "this space. Whende' c be haddn-chains comprising links connected 'by'cylindric'allyshaped pins Without employ:

" 15. i I r {diesI The; pintleswarenlnadegfrom ounded 'stoick' havingtwo flat Sld6S, SQ .th2tti1OI11y the;

ing additional means;

- against the convex sides ofthe holes, thereby, preventing any stretchof the chaln'. i Inconstruction, the links and ,Wa-shers-can The roundedsides of thepiiltiefifielosely be stamped from sheetinetalbyprogressive' .iendsrequire. turning ?to prepare the pintles v VY stockathan "that -"employed in making the I .1901 assembly."

I Thefgnide links-can be -madefroni heavier J working {links so: as to'increase the strength hetvveen twoaofwthe Working links-to he re-.eeivedfinalongitudinal grooveonathe sprock;

7 ets for servingthe-sameipjurpose-as'theignidelinkscarriedonthefendsofeachlpintle. v o r r Since it'is on'l'ypossi'ble for the'links to'p'arr and the parallel sides of the openingsin the linksfor the pl'lrposespecifiedg. i V 4:. Ina chain of-the silentlink type, a

seriesof overlapping links,.eaeh link formed with two openings, forregistry With the openings of other' said series,- each opening formedwith opposite concave sidewalls and'opposite continuouslystraig'ht papallel Walls, a pintle formed Withopposite convex sides for movablyengaging the concave side walls and-opposite flatpara'llel sides ofeachhopening to leave spaces between :said

pintle'and the parallel sides of the openings in thelinkshforthe.pnrpose specified;

In testirnonyvvhereof I'havehereunto set tiallyturn onthepintles-hecansefof theflat i sides; -.t ;echain can-not buckle in:operation. 7 a 1 vo do not desire to limit kmyself to the details; of"c'onstmctioni'and arrangementherein shown and described and: 4 anychanges or 7 v modifications-maybe made-therein'within the v j scopeojfthe subjoined'claims. 7 Ha 'ing: described-I my invention, I claim il-eln a chain of the silentlink' type, a plurality of overlapping links;havingregisters ingYcireular openings With t o-flat-straight i vsides-equidistant fromieach other throughout their-flengths;andzarticulating pintles-gdis i' posed in said openings" in movable engage Vmentywith=-the, :opposite{concave side Walls tereofsfor'therpurpos'especified-.-

; 2.-I1 aiehain-o the silentlink type, a plu ,ralit ofoverlapping Flinkshavingxregistering eirculan openings' with. two flat straight sidesequidistantfrom each otherit-hroughouti their ilengths;and:wafticnlatingr pintles I formedvwithoppositeconcave sides and op Hposits parallel sides, 'disposed iing said open- 3 7ingsiiorthepurposespeeified;, I j ,7 o I BLInachai-nbfthe silentlinktype} aseries= of over'lappingil-inks', each link 'formedrwithtwocificular openings; fomregistrywith the 7' openings;offotheralinksoisaid-eeriesy-eaeh o eningahavingetw flat "straight sides;equ-i} distant "fromi geachiotheri throughout a -thei r; lengths, -3114;articulating eylindrieal j pintle infovably engaging vth-e wallsofsregistering, I o I i v v Qpenmgsinwthe-links gand having jtvvo fiat'paral elisldes or leaming-spa'aesvbtweeneitv-

